The new COBRA KING Black Edition irons signal the official beginning of the end for COBRA’s current KING TOUR and CB/MB irons.
That’s not as ominous as it sounds.
For the past decade, OEMs on a two-year-plus life cycle have been giving their irons a final-year boost by offering them in black. It’s an iron set’s rite of passage. You’ve done your job so it’s time for a little cosmetic facelift to jump-start sales until your replacement is ready.
Which, if history is any guide, should be anytime between this January and next fall. We’re leaning toward the fall.
So, yeah, on the one hand, it’s a blatant cash grab. On the other hand, they almost uniformly look really, really cool.
With that, here’s what you need to know about the new COBRA KING Black Edition TOUR and CB/MB irons.
They’re black, all right
If you’re looking for any other differences or upgrades, don’t bother. These are the same as the chrome versions of the COBRA KING and COBRA CB/MB irons, only with a black finish.
And please, please, pretty please, let’s not bother with the “that’ll wear off after two range sessions” nonsense. COBRA has traditionally used the ultra-durable Diamondized Black Metal finish (DBM) for its black irons. DBM is unique in that it chemically infiltrates the soft 1025 carbon steel which literally makes the metal itself black to a certain depth. DBM also makes the clubface just a touch harder for better overall durability and groove life.
While it’s a dated and misinformed attitude, golfers tend to dismiss black finishes. Go back about 15 years to black oxide and black nickel finishes and you’d have a point. Those would start wearing as soon as you took the plastic off the clubhead. But DBM and the equally durable QPQ (Quench-Polish-Quench) are extremely durable, followed by PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) which, while not in the same league as the other two, is a heck of a lot better than it gets credit for.
COBRA KING Black Edition irons: Two models, maybe four
COBRA is offering two stock models of the COBRA KING Black Edition irons. You can get a full set of the COBRA KING TOUR irons or a progressive set of the COBRA KING CB and MB irons (4-6 in CB, 7-PW in MB). Those are stock offerings and will come in right-handed only.
The COBRA KING TOUR irons feature a larger head and are more forgiving than the KING CB and MB irons. COBRA mills an undercut in the cavity to lower the CG and add some perimeter weighting. The undercut is filled with TPU to help improve sound and feel. The KING TOUR irons also feature stronger lofts (by two degrees) for more distance.
The CB/MB is more compact all the way around with a thinner topline and sole, shorter blade lengths and minimal offset. They are among the most playable in each category, with the MBs a surprisingly easy-to-hit blade.
You can also get a full set of Black Edition CBs or a full set of Black Edition MBs (RH only) if you want but that will be through custom order. Lefties can custom order a full set of Black Edition KING TOUR irons or full sets of CBs or MBs through custom order.
A black Lamkin Crossline grip is standard as is the KBS $-Taper shaft in a black PVD finish. Other shafts are available via COBRA’s custom department.
Five-step forging
Most forged irons are made using a four-step process. COBRA (and a few others) use a five-step process. To save you the math, that’s one additional drop of the forging hammer.
The first three steps are rough forging. A carbon steel billet is heated to nearly 2,200 degrees F and pounded into the rough shape of a golf club. The head cools to about 1,500 F in step four while 1,200 tons of pressure refines the shape and adds logos and detail lines. Step five sees the head cool to 1,300 F and then smacked with 2,000 tons of pressure to create a uniform grain structure in the carbon steel.
The head then cools for milling and the DMB finish.
COBRA says the five-step process allows for more centered CG locations with no need for tungsten or any additional weighting.
COBRA KING Black Edition price and availability
If you want a COBRA KING Black Edition iron set, be ready to pay a $100 premium. The KING TOUR set will retail for $1,399 for a seven-piece set, compared to $1,299 for a standard chrome set. The stock seven-piece set is 4-PW, although a 3-iron and gap wedge are available through custom.
The COBRA KING Black Edition CB/MB combo set (or Flow Set, as COBRA calls it) will sell for $1,299 for a seven-piece set (a chrome set is $1,299). The stock set features the CB in the 4- through 6-iron and the MB in the 7-iron through pitching wedge. A 3-iron and gap wedge will also be available via custom order.
The Flow Set is stock in right-handed only. Righties can order a full CB or MB set. Lefties will have to custom order the Flow Set or an MB set only.
An all-black Lamkin Crossline is the stock grip and a black PVD-finish KBS $-Taper is the stock shaft.
The COBRA KING Black Edition TOUR and CB/BS irons will be available online and at retail starting Oct. 18.
For more information, visit the COBRA website.
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